Kremlin welcomes FIFA boss Infantino's comment on lifting Russia ban

Infantino -- who previously had friendly relations with Russia's Vladimir Putin -- said in an interview a day earlier that the ban on Russia had "not achieved anything."

His words provoked fury in Ukraine, which said the ban should be in place "as long as Russians continue to kill Ukrainians."

Russia has been mostly banned from international sport since its February 2022 Ukraine attack.

"We have seen these statements (by Infantino), and we welcome them. It's high time to think about this," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Our footballers, our national team, must have their rights fully restored... We hope that sooner or later such discussions will take place in FIFA," he added.

In an interview with Britain's Sky News, Infantino said the ban should be lifted, arguing it had "just created more frustration and hatred."

He said he believes "having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help."

Ukraine reacted with fury.

Russia's offensive against Ukraine has killed thousands, displaced millions, and destroyed much of southern and eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's sports minister Matviy Bidnyi called Infantino's comments "irresponsible" and "infantile".

"Let me remind you that the Russians have killed more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches during their full-scale aggression," he said on social media on Monday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said, "679 Ukrainian girls and boys will never be able to play football -- Russia killed them."

He added: "And it keeps killing more while moral degenerates suggest lifting bans, despite Russia's failure to end its war."

A few Russian athletes in other sports have been allowed to compete again under a neutral flag recently.